NHL and Portland: The old story with the familiar ending re-surfaces with Gallacher and Phoenix speculation

Unless he's had a dramatic change of heart, Blazers owner Paul Allen is unlikely to entertain the notion of sharing the Rose Garden with an NHL team. Portland-NHL talk has bubbled up again with talk that Winterhawks owner Bill Gallacher may be after yet another NHL team, this time the Phoenix Coyotes.Oregonlive.com

There's more NHL-to-Portland talk in the wake of reports that Portland Winterhawks' owner Bill Gallacher -- who has been linked to purchase bids before for the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils -- may be trying to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes.

Unfortunately for NHL fans in the Portland area, it won't happen for a number of reasons, No. 1 being Trail Blazers' owner Paul Allen (he owns the Rose Garden) and his longstanding view that bringing in another professional team that would compete for dollars with his basketball team makes no sense.

Portland could have had NHL hockey years ago, but Allen -- after initial interest -- changed his mind and said no. Does anybody remember how close the Pittsburgh Penguins came to re-locating to Portland? That was the NHL's Doomsday plan if all else failed in Pittsburgh. Allen had actually set aside money (I think it was over $60 million) for the purchase. But Mario Lemieux rode in to the rescue.

There is nothing to suggest Allen has changed his mind and wants to share his arena with the NHL.

Portland Winterhawks president Doug Piper, who is in Las Vegas today at the Western Hockey League board of governors meetings, has long maintained that his understanding (from Gallacher) is that Gallacher's purchase of an NHL team would not have a major impact on the WHL team in Portland.

Piper has said that Gallacher's interest in NHL ownership does not mean he wants to buy a team and move it to Portland.

The renewed talk of Portland and the NHL bubbled up Friday, after Craig Morgan of FoxSportsArizona.com filed a story about efforts to stabilize Phoenix ownership (the NHL currently runs the insolvent team) and keep the team in Phoenix -- the first choice of the NHL.

Wrote Morgan, "One man who fits the profile is Portland Winterhawks owner andCalgary oil mogul Bill Gallacher. Two sources told FOX Sports Arizona that he could be part of a group in the running to purchase the team on a fast track.''

"Nothing is known of what sort of lease agreement with Glendale might emerge, but if Gallacher is part of a new ownership group, it would raise the possibility of an opt-out clause.

"Portland has an NHL-ready arena in the Rose Garden, and that city was a rumored destination for the Coyotes once before (the move came a lot closer to happening than most fans know). Jamison said Thursday, however, that he left negotiations convinced that he had succeeded in keeping hockey in Arizona for the foreseeable future, and the NHL has remained steadfast in its preference that the team remain here.''

There was more talk of Portland being a possible relocation target (again, that can't happen if Paul Allen doesn't want the NHL competing with his NBA team) in this CBSsports.com story:

Up until now, the possible relocation of the Phoenix Coyotes has centered on two cities; Seattle and Quebec City. Now there is a new city emerging, and no, it's not Markham, Ontario. Try Portland, Ore.

It was interesting to hear some reports surfacing earlier this week when the deadline for Greg Jamison to buy the Coyotes under a favorable lease deal expired. Mainly, there was mention of possibly another suitor to the party, adding another layer to this complex story.

Following Greg Jamison’s unsuccessful bid to meet this week’s deadline to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes under the terms of the lease agreement the ‘Yotes have with the City of Glendale, there are whispers that a new relocation bid is taking shape.

Not only did a city councilor tell The Arizona Republic this week that a new bid has emerged, but multiple sources have indicated that the new bidder might be Calgary-based Portland Winterhawks owner Bill Gallacher.

According to FOX Sports Arizona, Gallacher could be looking to purchase a controlling interest in an effort to move the ‘Yotes to Portland, where an NHL-ready arena awaits.''

Yes, an NHL-ready arena awaits. An NHL-ready arena controlled by an NBA owner who has said before he doesn't want fans choosing between buying Trail Blazers' tickets or Portland NHL tickets.

The Toronto story also noted, "Working against Gallacher right now is the fact Jamison assured Phoenix fans Thursday he’ll continue his mission to purchase the Coyotes under a different plan. In addition, league commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the league is dedicated to keeping the team in Glendale.''